Saturday, May 8, 2010

Broadband Choices - Is DSL, Cable, Or Satellite Internet For You?

If you are one of the unfortunate people who are still using slow-speed dial-up service to connect to the Internet, you are probably starting to feel a bit like Tom Cruise's character in Top Gun, who feels "the need for speed." Fortunately, there are several options for you to choose from when it comes to satisfying this need. Here is a little information about the differences between DSL, cable, and Satellite Internet, to help you decide which is right for you.

The term "broadband" refers to any connection with a large, or "broad," bandwidth. The broader the bandwidth, the faster information can travel across it, and broadband Internet connections represent the fastest Internet connections available today. So if you are really serious about increasing your Internet speed, trade in your dial-up service for one of these broadband choices: broadband DSL, broadband cable, or satellite broadband.

One of the most popular choices among broadband Internet connections is DSL broadband. DSL technology transmits Internet signals across the same phone lines that your house is already equipped with and is one of the fastest options that exist. However, just because you have a landline in your home, it does not mean that you will necessarily have access to the lightning-fast speeds that DSL service can deliver. The same telephone companies that provide residential landline service provide DSL service. The farther your house is from the central office of your local telephone company, the weaker your DSL service will be. So if you do not live close to your local telephone company, you will not be able to enjoy the maximum speeds that broadband DSL is capable of.

Another wired high-speed option that is also very popular is cable broadband service. Similarly to how broadband DSL service is provided by your local phone company, broadband cable service comes from your local cable TV company. Unlike with broadband DSL service, though, the speed of broadband cable service does not depend on how close you live to your local cable company. However, it does depend on the amount of traffic a given cable network is receiving. If there are a lot of people trying to connect at the same time, cable networks can get clogged up and connections can slow down like streets and traffic during rush hour.

There are some rural and remote locations where the wires needed to deliver DSL and cable services are not available. If you live in such a place, do not worry. There is still a third broadband option that is available to you. This service is satellite Internet broadband, which is available anywhere in the northern hemisphere where you have a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. Satellite broadband service, though not as fast as the fastest DSL and cable connections, can still reach speeds up to fifty times faster than average dial-up connections can reach. Satellite broadband speeds do not depend on distance from your service provider or network traffic-since there are no wires involved, your satellite dish basically gives you your own network all to yourself. What can hinder satellite speeds, though, are extreme weather conditions.

If you decide that satellite is the best broadband option for you, contact hughes to sign up for a subscription. With satelite internet, you get the service you need, no matter where you live.